Progressive Conservative candidate and former city councillor Gord Steeves was defeated Tuesday night in the Seine River riding.

Steeves was up against incumbent NDP Health Minister Theresa Oswald, who was the popular choice among voters.

Steeves resigned from city council in early summer and gambled by seeking the PC nomination, and hopefully win a seat in the Manitoba legislature.

During his concession speech Tuesday night, Steeves wouldn’t say whether he would try to reclaim his St. Vital council seat in the upcoming by-election, but did hint at perhaps bowing out of politics altogether. He is expected to make an announcement on his future in the next two days.

Liberal leader Jon Gerrard spoke to supporters in his River Heights riding Tuesday, shortly after being re-elected to the Manitoba legislature.

Gerrard, who holds the only Liberal seat, thanked voters for supporting him to his fourth win.

“There is a very strong future for Liberals in Manitoba,” Gerrard said. “We demonstrated we have the platforms, the ideas, and we have a lot of young candidates who will be the future of the Manitoba Liberal party.”

Gerrard said he was committed to representing his constituents.

The party had hoped to send at least a couple candidates to the legislature, but it wasn’t in the cards for the party who seems to have trouble resonating with voters.

With just days to go until the provincial election, one of the issues is still involving youth in the democratic process.

Manitobans aged 18-35 have been the key demographic that contributes to low voter turnout. A Winnipeg-based website is hoping to change that statistic.

Get Out The Vote (GOTV) is a non-partisan volunteer group of youth who think that ‘politics as usual’ isn’t working for them and want the candidates to know that they are paying attention and want change.

“Our mission is bold,” said Sim Pannu, GOTV campaign director. “We want all of the apathetic youth in Manitoba — all the ones who think their vote doesn’t matter — the ones who think that their single vote won’t make a difference to make that change happen.”

The campaign’s website (GotVote.ca) includes quotes from youth on both sides of the voting fence. The site also allows the opportunity to have your say on the issues, party platforms and review articles related to the election.

NDP leader Greg Selinger spoke to a business crowd Thursday morning, where he outlined the importance Manitoba Hydro plays to the province’s economy.

“Hydro power is Manitoba’s oil,” Selinger told the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. “The main economic question in this election is do we build Hydro or not? The differences between myself and Mr. McFadyen on this are clear as day.”

Selinger went on to outline Hydro’s contribution of $500 million to the economy each year through export sales, and noted it’s poised to invest as much as $15 billion in new dams and transmission lines.

Selinger again went on to criticize his main opponent, Progressive Conservative Party leader Hugh McFadyen, saying the PCs would be “reckless” with their plans for Bipole III, a controversial high-voltage Manitoba Hydro transmission line taking power to northern Manitoba via the west side of the province. McFadyen has continually said his government would reroute the line on the east side of Lake Winnipeg — making for a shorter, more cost-effective alternative.

“The Liberals want to put the Bipole under water,” Selinger added. “Different parties, different positions, but both would lead to the same sorry results: letting jobs and opportunities die on the vine.”

The Green Party has gone on record to say the project wouldn’t be necessary at all.

NDP leader Greg Selinger announces a plan to expand home care in the province on Wednesday, September 28, 2011. (CHRISD.CA)

Manitoba NDP leader Greg Selinger vowed on Wednesday to expand home care to include doctors, nurse practitioners and other health professionals to help seniors improve their health and remain in their own homes longer.

New hospital home teams will provide specialized services for seniors instead of having them remain in the hospital. The teams would provide care that currently is only available as part of a hospital stay.

The Manitoba Liberals would work to create a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) registry if elected.

Leader Jon Gerrard announced Wednesday that his government would push to dedicate more resources to improve diagnosis, treatment and counselling of the disease.

“The NDP and Tories talk a big game about crime, but they don’t even know where to start,” Gerrard said. “The best tough on crime policy you can talk about is one that seriously deals with the affects of FASD.”

The $3.9 million investment into the FASD registry would work to protect the health of children, and ensure they are treated. The Liberals say if left untreated, many children often turn to a life of crime.